Vehicle door window construction



OGL 29, 1935- Y H. RAlNn-:R 2,018,872

VEHICLE DOOR WINDOW CONSTRUTION Original Filed Jan. 26, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet l Q" o2/Verf.

Oct. 29, 1935.

H. RAINIER VEHICLE DOOR WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Jam.v 26,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 ET E? STAT PATENT GFFICApplication January 26, 1933, Serial No. 653,662 Renewed March 25, 1935Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle door windowconstructions.

An object of the invention is to provi-de an improved door windowwherein there is a pane which can be elevated from the pane receivingpocket conventionally provided in a vehicle door to a position over thewindow opening. In this construction the pane is transversely dividedinto upper and lower sections and specifically an object of theinvention is to provide a construction for automatically causing thelower section of the pane to be swung outwardly when the upper sectionof the window pane approaches the upper limit of its movement. In thismanner the upper section forms a closed window while the lower sectioncan be swung outwardly to provide suitable ventilation and an openingfor giving arm signals, if the window happens to be that located next tothe drivers seat.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a vehicle door windowconstruction having the above mentioned characteristics, wherein theoperating mechanism employed for raising and lowering the window panecauses the automatic outward swinging movement oi the lower section totake place.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide a construction wherein thelower section is forcibly closed or swung back into alignment with theupper section of the window pane during the start of the downwardmovement of the upper section of the window pane. In this way the lowersection will always be caused to align with the upper section beforeentering the pane receiving pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a window construction forvehicle doors wherein there is an upper section and a lower section, thelower section being pivoted for movement relatively to the uppersection, and to provide a construction wherein these sections of thepane are in edge to edge relation without any binding strips or channelswhich detract from the appearance ci the window and also have a tendencyto obstruct the view therethrough.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, and specically pointedout in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the improved vehicle door,illustrating the construction embodying the invention in lowermostposition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure l, illustrating the construction inuppermost position.

Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection taken substantially tiupon the line 5-5upon Figure 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a slightly modifiedform of construction.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially 4upon the line 'l-Tupon Figure 6. 10

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 8-3 uponFigure 7, the lower section of the pane being shown in aligned positionwith the upper section preparatory t-o entering the pane receivingpocket.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the door in which theimproved construction is illustrated as having been mounted consists oftop and bottom rails I0 20 and II, connected by upright stiles I2. Thesestiles are also connected by a sill I3. Inner and outer walls I4 and I5,which may be provided by sheet metal, connect the stiles I2 from sill I3to bottom rail Il, forming a pane receiving pocket I6 which is beneaththe window opening I1 between the sill I3 and top rail I0. On the innerfaces of the stiles and within the pane receiving pocket I6 there areprovided grooved guides I8 for a frame I9 for the window pane. Thisframe 30 has channeled sides 2d and a bottom 2l. The channeled portionsof the sides extend downwardly from the top of the upper section 22 ofthe window pane only a distance equal to the height of the uppersection. Below the bottom edge of the upper section 22 the sides of theframe are flat and unchanneled. The guides I8, which guide the frame,terminate opposite sill I3 and thereabove a suitable channeled weatherstrip 23 is mounted on each stile. This weather strip may be ci heavyfelt or any conventional Weather stripping use-d to embrace the sides oivehicle window panes.

Any conventional mechanism may be employed for raising and lowering-theframe I9. The apparatus shown consists of an endless chain 24 trainedover upper and lower sprockets 25 and 2'6. The upper sprocket can berotated by a crank il and a lifter 28 connectsv the bottom 2l or theframe to the chain. It is obvious that upon rotation of crank 2l theframe I9 and the upper section of the window pane will be elevated.Usually the friction between the weather stripping :i3 and the sides ofthe frame is suflicient to hold the frame and upper section ofthe windowpane in any adjusted position so that by releasing the crank 21 theWindow pane will be held in any intermediate position between theextreme positions shown.

Beneath the bottom edge of the upper section of window pane 22 there isa lower section 29. This section of the window pane is in edge to edgerelationship with the upper section 22. Its sides are embraced inchannels 30, which may be formed of sheet metal, each channel carrying aprojecting pin 3| which ts in an aperture in the frame I9 immediatelybeneath the bottom edge of upper sectionr2r2. In this manner the lowersection 29 is pivoted for rotation about an axis very close to its topedge. nels 3U carry side shields 32, these being preferably in the formof a segment of aY circle, and these side shields carry bifurcatedextensions 33, the entrances to which are preferably widened. These sideshields are movable in vertical passages 34, provided by sheet metal 35surrounding each stile. A pin or nail 3G is driven into each stileso asto be located in the path of the bifurcated extension on each sideshield. The groove 31, which may be lined with weather stripping 38 andwhich is formed in the under side of top rail I9, is preferably made alittle deeper than the groove formed in the conventional vehicle doorwindow to receive the upper end of the window pane.

The operation and advantages of the improved construction are asfollows. It will be noted that the two sections of the window pane mayassume a position entirely concealed within pocket I6 as shown in Figure1 wherein the window opening I1 is fully opened. If it is desired tohave a closed window, the operator merely rotates crank Y21, elevatingthe frame and both sections of the pane. The lower section 29 remains inalignment with the upper section until the upper edge of the uppersection 22 has entered groove 31. In this position, wherein the top ofupper section 22 is entered the groove but is still disposed a shortdistance from the very top of the groove, lower section 29 remains inalignment with upper section 22 forming a completely closed Window. Iithe operator desires a small amount of ventilation from immediatelyabove the sill I3, he continues rotation of crank 21 only slightly. Thiselevates both sections of the pane a very short distance and pin 3S,having entered the bifurcated extension 33, causes section 29 to beswung outwardly. Continued elevation of the frame by means of crank 21causes the lower section to be swung out still farther until the uppersection 22 has reached the very top of groove 31. Under these conditionsmaximum ventilation is provided through the opening opened by lowersection 29. Also a suitable opening is provided for arm signals. Thefrictional engagement between the frame and the weather stripping 23 issucient to hold the upper section 22 in any adjusted position andconsequently it is possible to so adjust the construction as to causelower section 29-to give any desired opening and to remain in suchadjusted position. On reversely rotating crank 21, the initial downwardmovement of frame I9 causes lower section 29 to be automatically andpositively returned to a position in alignment with upper section 22before it enters pocket IS. It

will, of course, be appreciated that itA is not nec- .essary to lowerthe pane entirely from the position shown invFigure 2 and, ifv desired,reduced ventilation may be obtained by only partially The chanloweringthe upper section 22 forming a suitable opening between its top edge andtop rail Ill. In this way the operator may obtain ventilation fromeither the top or bottom of the Window opening I1 if desired. 5

In the modification illustrated in Figures 6, '1 and 8, the door isprovided with the top rail 40, bottom rail QI, sill 42 and Stiles 43. Inthis form of construction the window pane may be disposed centrally ofthe stiles and rails. The 10 pocket 44 is formed as before, in whichthere are guides 45 for the frame 45 having the lifter i1 attached tothe endless chain 28 passing over the sprockets 49 and 50. The uppersprocket is rotated by crank 5I. The upper section 52 is 15 stationarilymounted in the frame While the lower section 53 carrying the side wings54 is pivoted adjacent its top edge on a pin 55. This pin has an angularextension or crank 56, the extreme end of which is disposed in aVertical 20 groove 51 formed in each stile. The upper end of this grooveis angular, or inclined, as indicated at 58, and is preferably protectedby means of a face plate 59.

During upward movement of the frame 46 25 from the pocket 42, the end ofpin 55 merely slides in the vertical groove in each stile, thusmaintaining the lower section 53 in perfect alignment with upper section52 of the pin. On approaching the upper end of the movement of the 30upper section 52 the end of the pin 55 enters the angular portion of theslot, thus forcibly and automatically swinging the lower section 53outwardly into the position shown in Figure 6. Conversely on downwardmovement of the frame 35 the lower section 53 is first automatically andpositively returned to a position in alignment wth upper section 52 andthen enters the pocket.

The purpose of the side shields in both forms of constructions istoprevent a sweeping draft 40 vthrough the opening formed by the outwardswinging of the lower section. In both constructions it will beappreciated that the lower section 53 isV automatically and forciblycaused to swing outwardly only when the upper section reaches 45 theextreme upper end of its movement. It ls possible to have the uppersection partially enter its respective groove with the lower sectionremaining in alignment therewith. This forms a completely closed window.A slight continued 50 upward movement produces an outward swinging ofthe lower section. It is obvious that the lower section can be caused toassume any intermediate position by proper manipulation of the sameoperating crank which raises and low- 55 ers the window pane.

' In both types of constructions it will be noted that the lower sectionof the pane swings out from adjacent its top edge and that the top edgeof the lower section remains substantially o0 in rcontact or very closeto the bottom edge of theupper section. Whether the window pane is openor closed, that is regardless of whether the lower section is swungoutwardly or in alignment with the upper section, the arrangement issuch 65 as to eiectively prevent rain or snow entering the vehicle. Itis possible to keep the window Vnormally closed and when it is desiredto give or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vehicle window having means for elevating and lowering the pane,said pane being transversely divided into upper and lower sections,means for guiding the upper section during its opening and closingmovement so as to maintain it in substantially the same plane throughoutits movement, and means for causing the lower section to be swungoutwardly automatically when the upper section approaches the extremeend of its upward movement.

2. A vehicle window having its pane transversely divided into upper andlower sections, means for raising and lowering said sections, means forguiding the upper section to maintain it in substantially the same planethroughout its movement, and means for automatically causing the lowersection to be swung outwardly when the upper section approaches theextreme end of its upward movement.

3. A vehicle window having its pane transversely divided into upper andlower sections, means for raising and lowering said sections, means forguiding the upper section to maintain it in substantially the same planethroughout its movement, and means for automatically causing the lowersection to be swung outwardly when the upper section approaches theextreme end of its upward movement, said means serving to cause thelower section to be automatically swung into alignment with the uppersection at the beginning of the downward movement of the upper section.

4. A vehicle window having its pane transversely divided into upper andlower sections, a guided frame for the upper section, means for guidingthe frame to keep it and the upper section in substantially the sameplane throughout its movement, the lower section being pivoted upon theframe, means for raising and lowering said frame, a stationary partadjacent the path of the frame, and means carried by the lower sectionengageable with the stationary part for causing the lower section to beautomatically swung outward when the upper section approaches the end ofits upward movement.

5. A vehicle window having its pane transversely divided into upper andlower sections, a guided frame for the upper section, means for guidingthe frame to keep it and the upper section in substantially the sameplane throughout its movement, the lower section being pivoted upon theframe, means for raising and lowering said frame, a stationary partadjacent the path of the frame, and means carried by the lower sectionengageable with the stationary part for causing the lower section to beautomatically swung outward when the upper section approaches the end-of its upward movement, said means serving to forcibly return the lowersection into a position in alignment with the upper section at thebeginning of the downward movement of the upper section.

6. A vehicle window having its pane transversely divided into upper andlower sections, a guided frame for the upper section, means for guidingthe frame to keep it and the upper section in substantially the sameplane throughout its movement, the lower section being pivoted upon theframe, said pivot being located at the top edge of the lower section,means for raising and lowering said frame, a stationary part ad- 5jacent the path of the frame, and means carried by the lower sectionengageable with the stationary part for causing the lower section to beautomatically swung outward when the -upper section approaches the endof its upward movement.

7. A vehicle window having its pane transversely divided into upper andlower sections, a guided frame for' the upper section, means for guidingthe frame to keep it and the upper section in substantially the sameplane throughout its movement, the lower section being pivoted upon theframe, said pivot being located at the top edge of the lower section,means for raising and lowering said frame, a stationary part mountedadjacent the path of the frame, and means carried by the lower sectionengageable with the stationary part for causing the lower section to beautomatically swung outward when the upper section approaches the end ofits upward movement, said means serving to forcibly return the lowersection into a position in alignment with the upper section at thebeginning of the downward movement of the upper section.

8. A vehicle window having its pane divided into upper and lowersections, a frame receiving the side edges of the upper section,channels receiving the side edges of the lower section, said channelscarrying pivots which pivot on the frame for the upper section, thesections being arranged inledge to edge relationship, and side shieldscarried by the channels adapted to close the ends of the openingproduced by the lower section when the lower section is swung outwardly.

9. A vehicle window having its pane divided into upper and lowersections, a frame receiving the side edges of the upper section,channels receiving the side edges of the lower section, said channelscarrying pivots which pivot on the frame for the upper section, thesections being arranged in edge to edge relationship, side shieldscarried by the channels adapted to close the ends of the openingproduced by the lower section when the lower section is swung outwardly,said side shields carrying means adapted to engage a stationary partwhen the upper section approaches its uppermost position to cause thelowerI section to be automatically swung outwardly, and a stationarypart disposed in the path of the last mentioned means engageablethereby.

10. A vehicle window having its pane divided into upper and lowersections, a frame receiving the side edges of the upper section,channels receiving the side edges of the lower section, said channelscarrying pivots which pivot on the frame for the upper section, sideshields carried by the channels adapted to close the ends of the openingproduced by the lower section when the lower section is swung outwardly,and means providing a pocket adapted to receive said frame, channels andsections; there being an opening in the top of the pocket permittingsaid side shields to pass therethrough.

' HARRY RAINER.

